Townsville’s iconic Neptune resumes duty

Reserve personnel used professionalism, pride and impressive trade skills to restore RAAF Base Townsville’s iconic Lockheed P2V-7 Neptune A89-280 aircraft gate guard.

CAPTION: Two cranes return Neptune A89-280 back onto its plinth at the RAAF Base Townsville entrance. Story by Flight Lieutenant Julia Ravell.

For seven weeks, a team of 12 reservists from Air Force History and Heritage’s Static Display Aircraft Support Section (SDASS) worked in Townsville’s Hangar 75 to repair climatic damage to the Neptune’s structure, remove corrosion, treat exposed surfaces and apply unique paint – chosen for its environmental friendliness – to protect and preserve the aircraft for future generations to appreciate.

A small crowd watched on Remembrance Day as two cranes, hired from local company Rev’s Cranes, lifted the aircraft back onto its three plinths where it had stood guard over RAAF Base Townsville since 2012.

In 2011, Cyclone Yasi caused significant damage to both A89-280 and A89-272 on display in different locations at the base. SDASS carried out major repair and restoration work in 2012 to rebuild A89-280 from the damaged Neptunes.

CAPTION: Warrant Officer David Dowe, Flight Sergeants Steve Greenwood, Leigh Byrnes and Gavan Williams, and Warrant Officers John Buckle and Murray Heath with the restored Neptune.

A Townsville icon, A89-280 was the final Neptune delivered to Air Force in May 1962 as part of a 12-aircraft fleet operated by 10 Squadron out of RAAF Base Townsville in maritime patrol, surveillance, and anti-shipping and submarine roles until 1977.

One of the squadron’s accolades while operating in Townsville was when A89-273 assisted adventurer Ben Cropp’s November 1977 expedition to discover the wreck of the HMS Pandora, sent by the British Navy in 1779 to locate Captain Bligh’s Bounty mutineers, which was lost on the outer Great Barrier Reef in 1791.

Warrant Officer in Charge of SDASS, Warrant Officer David Dowe, said his team worked long shifts throughout the restoration schedule in order to return the aircraft to the base’s front gate in time for a Remembrance Day deadline.

Warrant Officer Dowe said restoring A89-280 was one of the biggest projects ever undertaken by SDASS.

“We have restored and refurbished Caribous, Canberras and an F-111 here and there, but nothing this big,” Warrant Officer Dowe said.

“It’s such a beast and it was a hell of a long way down to the hangar floor looking from the highest level of the scaffolding.

CAPTION: Scaffolding surrounds Neptune A89-280 in preparation for its refurbishment.

“We knew we had a job in front of us when we realised that it was very lengthy from nose to the tail when it rolled into the hangar.”

Warrant Officer Dowe added that several unexpected and unwanted issues arose before the Neptune was to be moved into the restoration hangar in that first week.

“A flat nose landing gear tyre, the day before towing, made things interesting,” he said.

“With no spares and no fudge time, the tyre and rim assembly was taken off the aircraft and members of SDASS drove to the nearest tyre shop, requesting a replacement inner tube.

“The tyre shop improvised with a truck tyre tube of similar dimensions that, after replacement, has not lost any air to date.”

Director of Air Force Heritage Projects Group Captain Andrew Tatnell said the project team overcame many challenges to rejuvenate the ageing aircraft and erase 12 years of oxidisation and corrosion caused by Townsville’s salt-laden sea breezes.

“I’m very proud of the team’s skill and dedication,” Group Captain Tatnell said.

“Successfully completing this project on time was an outstanding achievement.”

Senior ADF Officer RAAF Base Townsville Wing Commander Luke Headley told Townsville Bulletinthat Neptune A89-280 was an important part of Townsville’s history.

“The Neptune and Caribou gate guards are wonderful reminders of our history, particularly for the many people in the local community who’ve served here on the base,” Wing Commander Headley said.

For the 12 men who worked on the aircraft, restoration is a fine art and a labour of love. It beats back time to keep the past alive for new generations to respect and revere all those who have served to uphold Australia’s values.

CAPTION: The Neptune aircraft under tow to a hangar on RAAF Base Townsville in late October.

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